A young shorty, intrigued by the rap artist image
Couldn't let grandmoms catch me reciting lyrics
If she did she got upset and gave me a lecture
Told me rap was for hoodlums that didn't really impress her
They just a bunch of thugs that keep texts on their dresser
Out of respect for her I used to hide my tapes
Quietly recording shows up at nights real late
Stuffing papers in cassettes if I ain't had no blanks
From maxillae TV case that didn't matter what the tape was
The favorite show back in the days was probably Future Flavors
Marley Marl and Pete Rock playing the exclusives
Nothing but new hits, the one show that I refused to miss
That was the era that gave me the most influences
When rap was in its prime and the streets were damaged from crime
I was in the lab drafting a rhyme
Bumping 50 MC's by Tony Touch while every track would rewind
Late night video souls
Those were the days of my youth
Yeah, those were the days of my youth
I used to rock a triple goose when it was cold
Those were the days of my youth
Yeah, those were the days of my youth
Running around chasing skirts in the summer
Those were the days of my youth
Yeah, those were the days of my youth
Being raised up by a single mother
Those were the days of my youth
Damn, what happened to the days of my youth
Just a little kid who fiend to be placed on the TV screen
Listening to Billie Jean smiling and dancing
With tube socks and church shoes, acting like Michael Jackson
That was way back when, Michael who my idol was
Black mittens on my hands 'cause I ain't had no white gloves
After that phase started admiring the thugs
Letting my pants sag glow over my (?) kicks
Life to me was all about hip hop and comic strips
Fighting with my television while my chick karate flicks
Always taken care of, can't say I was (?)
Sneaky little child always behaving suspicious
Devious type flirting with the baby sitters
Thank God for moms discipline, that made a difference
Could've ended up being a problem child facing a sentence
Instead I chose a path with limitations and restrictions
On being and listening when no time was giving wisdom
Getting bad grades at school
Those were the days of my youth
Yeah, those were the days of my youth
Rocking Jordan's made me feel a little cool
Those were the days of my youth
Yeah, those were the days of my youth
Rap City in the basement
Those were the days of my youth
Yeah, those were the days of my youth
Damn, I wonder where them days went
Those were the days of my youth
Damn, what happened to the days of my youth
You could find me on the block chasing the ice cream truck
A cooling out waiting for the fire hydrants to erupt
Spraying water guns at everybody while I run and duck
You know the younging, that came across as being mad shy and coy
Nickname back in the day used to be shotty boy
Liked a few sports but b-ball was one of my favorites
Naive like every kid thinking I could make the Majors
Found a new hobby which was putting pencils to pages
Infected with a love for hip hop that got contagious
First album on tape was 36 Chambers
Started watching YO! MTV Raps with Dre and Ed
Taping hot 97 in night before I lay in bed
Black Moon 'Who's Got The Props' forever playing in my head
Blasting my speakers when I heard Angie Martinez
Battle of the beats, one of my favorite features
Influenced by the music, so I switched up the dress-code
Thinking I'm the man now because I rock fresh clothes
From Hilfiger to Helly Hansen when the weather was cold
Negro need catching grand hills on my feet
Those memories are forever that I remember and keep
From Jo Clear to Big Les
Those were the days of my youth
Yeah, those were the days of my youth
Stocking cabs with a fitted on my head
Those were the days of my youth
Yeah, those were the days of my youth
Yes, farmers and shirts by Tommy Hill
Those were the days of my youth
Yeah, those were the days of my youth
Those times are long gone but still wear 'em
Those were the days of my youth
Damn, what happened to the days of my youth?